Spring type exercisers



June 24, A1969 R. A. sURzENsKI s-PRING'TYPE ExERoI'sERs Fiied s ept. 1 4, 196e FIGI RALPHBURZENSKI F166 FIG? F168 BWK. M

' ATTORNEY J nu .I

United States Patent O 3,451,675 SPRING TYPE EXERCISERS Ralph A. Burzenski, 5429 N. 25th St., Milwaukee, Wis. 53209 Filed Sept. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 579,345 Int. 'Cl. A63b 21 /02; F16f 1/12 U.S. Cl. 272-83 1 Claim ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE body or without touching the trunk portion of the exercisers body.

My invention relates to improvements in exercisers and more particularly to an exerciser incorporating a relatively stilic expansion spring which is useful for dynamic active exercising.

The prime object of my invention is to provide an exercising device that depends on a closely wound ex* pansion spring for its manipulation and its resistance to manipulation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described that provides an exerciser that depends on the bending of the spring as Well as its expansion.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device that may lbe manipulated with the arms only, or with the hands and feet whereupon the user may activate and stimulate any number of the bodys muscles.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an exerciser that may be applied to and thereby benefit any part of the body.

It is manifest to anyone familiar with spring type exercisers, that the prime object consists in their expansion during their manipulation, or use. The device illustrated, described and claimed herein employs a tightly wound relatively stiff expansion type of spring that is bent for application to any part of the body of the user, yet may be expanded for its function.

Other and further objects of my invention will become v more apparent as the description proceeds, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, partially cross-sectional view of the completely assembled device, with single grips extending outward therefrom on both ends thereof;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one end of the device, showing a double grip arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a view of one end of the device in modified form, equipped with a handle;

FIG. 4 is a view of the device shown in FIG. ,A1, illustrating in phantom the manner in which it may be bent when in contact with the users back, or shoulders;

FIG. 5 is a similar view of the device, illustrating the manner in -which it may be 4bent to a circular contour; and

FIGS. 6 to l0, inclusive, show schematic views of the device applied in various ways.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and referring now to the same, character 20, indicates a tightly wound relatively stiff expansion spring which may be of any diameter depending on the amount of resistance to force desired.

3,451,675 Patented June 24, 1969 Adjacent each end of spring 20 is a solid end block 21, threaded at its outer periphery 22 for complementary engagement with the inner surface of the coils of wound wire constituting the spring 20.

Each block 21 is centrally threaded to accommodate therein a threaded rod 23 which, in turn, is equipped with a lock nut 24. A grip 25 (see FIG. 1) is suitably attached to rod 23 as by means of a pin 26 passing therethrough or in any other convenient manner. Grip 25, as shown, presents a gripping surface which extends along the longitudinal axis of spring 20, when spring 20 is in its rest position.

Obviously, grips 25 may be of any design or contour or they may be replaced by a handle 27 as shown in FIG. 3. Handle 27 may be of any form, shape or contour so as to provide a grip, shown as 28, which presents a gripping surface which lies transversely of the longitudinal axis of spring 20.

`Rod 23 and its threaded engagement with lblock 21, permit grip 25, or handle 27, to be easily interchanged. These handle means are held in a preselected fixed position by actuation of lock nut 24 into engagement with surface 29 of block 21 in a locking position. Spring 20', in addition to being pliable and bendable, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 10 inclusive, may also be stretched and expanded if desired during its manipulation.

The modified handle means construction shown in FIG. 2, has a cross or transverse rod member 30 which supports a pair of grips 25 which are held in position by the passage of pins 26 transversely therethrough. In this assemblage, rod member 30 engages head member 32 which in turn is connected to rod 23 as by the passage of pin 31 therethrough. As shown in FIG. 2, each grip is cushioned by the interposition of a spacer 33 between it and member 32.

The resilient action of the tightly wound spring 20, which may be of any desired resistance, will determine the amount of force that is to be exerted during the exercising process. The exercising process, of course, may involve expanding the spring, bending the spring or both, as indicated.

From the above description it will become apparent to anyone familiar with the art, that the device herein described has a definite function and purpose not heretofore shown in the art of resilient exercisers, and although I have shown a specific construction and arrangement of the parts, I am fully cognizant of the fact that many changes may be made in the parts and their arrangement without affecting the operativeness of the device, and it is intended that they be included within the spirit and scope of my invention especially as it is delined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A spring type exercising device comprising, in combination, a tightly wound relatively stil expansion spring having a first and a second end.

handle means associated with each of said ends to permit expansion and manipulation of said spring in response to forces placed thereon.

said handle means comprising a block having peripheral threading complementary to the coils of said spring adjacent to the ends thereof,

said spring disposed in threaded engagement with said block, a grip supported by said block,

said handle means further comprising a rod means inserted into said block in threaded engagement 3 4 therewith and connectable to said grip, said handle References Cited maus coflpfiss UNITED STATES PATENTS a pair of grips drsposed 1n axlally spaced relationship to each other, Hunter a transverse rod member interconnecting said grips, 5 212961175 9/1942 Mofkoskl 287-86 XR a head member supporting said transverse rod member, 21714008 7/1955 Urban 272-83 a pair of spacers carried by said transverse rod member, a

each of said spacers being disposed in operative inter- RICHARD L' PINKHAM Primary Exammer' position with one of said grips and said head mem- W, R, BROWNE, Assszanf Examiner. ber, and

said head member disposed upon and attached to said 10 U.S. C1. X.R.

rod 287-86 

